Category: Stories

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 ESV How far are you willing to stretch your faith in this extraordinary challenging time?
Just imagine how blind delegates attend training in Penang, Malaysia,
with no personal assistants to guide them from the airport, airplane,
convention center and back home… They practiced extraordinary faith and
determination. Although they cannot see, they depended on their walking
sticks, and leaned on it towards the right direction. Much like what
Jacob did – “leaned” on his stick… towards God! So, why can’t we do the same, in this seemingly unusual situation we are in? Remember, as long as we trust and believe… God is gracious – our prayers, we will receive.

Twenty-five years ago, one blind pastor had a vision of using technology so that blind people can lead better lives. So he started a computer training in DOS right in his own backyard which eventually was institutionalized as Adaptive Technology for the Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired Incorporated also known by its nickname ATRIEV.

ATRIEV has lasted and endured because of its valuable friends and partners who were recognized during the modest celebration of ATRIEV’s silver founding anniversary held on November 26, 2019 at the Marikit Function room of One Shangrila Place, Mandaluyong City.

Dubbed as “25 Years of Creating Vision Beyond Sight; Be our Partners in Sight, Partners in Deed”, ATRIEV gave due recognition to the following:

CBM is an international development organization committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. CBM addresses poverty as a cause and consequence of disability and works in partnership with local development organization to create an inclusive society for persons with disability.
In 2003, CBM provided ATRIEV a five-year grant that jump-started ATRIEV’s formal organizational set-up. Through the CBM grant, ATRIEV established a six-person full-time staff which assured the quality delivery of its services. CBM continues to provide salary support to ATRIEV staff as well as support to training, employment efforts and disability inclusive orientation projects.

The Liliane Fonds of the Netherlands aims at giving children and youngsters with disabilities, up to 25 years, in developing countries to enable them to participate and count in their community. NORFIL Foundation is the Strategic Partner Organization (SPO) of the Liliane Fonds in the Philippines under the Partnerships for Inclusive Development (PFID) team. As an SPO, NORFIL provides financial and technical support to local non-profit and people’s organizations supporting children and youth with disabilities.

In 2007, Liliane Fonds gave support to 25 ATRIEV trainees. To date, Liliane through NORFIL Foundation, has provided tuition and dormitory sponsorships to more than 400 blind trainees. NORFIL has also given support to the training of over 500 teachers in the use of assistive technology as a teaching and learning tool.

NORFIL Foundation was ably represented by JonalynGalamgam, Program assistant, Partnerships for inclusive development.

The UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, the country’s National University, has partnered with ATRIEV through the UP College of Education, Diliman campus. Aware of technology’s role in the education of persons with disabilities, special education students of the UP College of Education participate in ATRIEV’s Basic ICT for SPED Teachers training so that they will be able to use assistive technology in both Windows and Android platforms in teaching their future students. Since 2018, ATRIEV has conducted two batches of ICT training for the UP College of Education students. Both institutions plan to formalize the partnership in the succeeding years UP College of Education was ably represented by Dr. Marie Therese Angeline Bustos, former Dean, College of Education, University of the Philippines.

One Meralco Foundation (OMF) is the social development arm of Meralco. OMF undertakes various projects for the upliftment of disadvantaged sectors within the Meralco franchise areas. In the Christmas of 2018, OMF launched “Kita-Kita Ngayong Pasko” an employee giving project to support ATRIEV’s programs. Among the programs supported by One Meralco Foundation are nationwide teacher training on assistive technology, social media marketing training for persons with disabilities and Android accessibility training for children and youth with disabilities. One Meralco Foundation was ably represented by its Program Manager, Mr. Neil Celeste Rara, during ATRIEV’s 25th founding anniversary event. With One Meralco Foundation and ATRIEV working hand-in-hand, the blind will truly see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My most remarkable moment in ATRIEV was when one of the Norfil Foundation staff join the class for a few days because she said that their website is not that accessible. At first I thought that she is strict but when she introduced herself and told us that we could act like normal students. I felt at ease. To ATRIEV, continue to change the life of the blind, help them realize that the world won’t stop because they got blind. Open their eyes that even though they are blind they can do more like an abled persons.

The hope that ATRIEV gives to the PWD community ignited my love for this advocacy. I will continue to live by its mission to create vision beyond sight. Furthermore, I believe that all my experiences in this 5-day training will help me to become the best Special Education teacher that I can be. I will make use of my knowledge to raise awareness and empower more PWDs. I will never forget our trainers who did not just teach us, but also touched our lives in so many ways. They will be one of my inspirations as I turn the disabilities to THIS abilities of my future students.

Marjulene Roxas
Basic ICT Training of Trainers 2018
UP College of Education Student

As a person with mobility impairment, Writing for the Web Training was another milestone for me. I learned to enhance my grammar and English composition, and developed my skills in computer. It refreshed my mind in the proper usage of grammar and it upgraded me to the latest applications. I have learned new techniques and adjusted myself to something new. I will bring all my learnings from the training to where my destiny lies on. A journey that will surely broaden my horizon and leads me to a new way of technology and learning that can turn difficulties into opportunities. Thank you ATRIEV for making it possible for us Persons with disability.

I’m very much grateful of the ATRIEV because I was benefited by their training using ICT in teaching learners with special needs, especially for the visually impaired and blind. I have so much respect and I feel proud of the trainers because of their perseverance for us to learn to use digital technology. Despite their disability, they enable us to empower our skills. We, as teachers in Special Education, will impart our knowledge in using ICT to our learners too, for them to become competitive productive member of the community and to live equally like a person without disability.

ATRIEV gave me hope after an incident of senseless violence took my eyesight. What I learned from the ATRIEV experience enables me to do my work at Grayscale and at VIsION AI Labs. So I wish this amazing bunch all the luck and blessings that they need for years to come. Happy silver anniversary!